J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, has strongly criticized the celebration of J&K’s Union Territory Day, calling it a humiliation and a commemoration of the disempowerment of J&K’s people.
“Why should they rub salt into the wounds of the people of J&K?” Lone questioned, expressing dismay over what he termed the audacious commemoration of a day that represents J&K’s disempowerment—a once politically empowered state now relegated to Union Territory status.
He firmly advised the elected government to steer clear of these commemorations, which he believes disparagingly portray the people of J&K as subjugated.
According to Lone, the Union Territory status casts a shadow over the region, either signaling that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are incapable of managing their own affairs or suggesting they cannot be trusted to govern J&K independently.
“This day,” he emphasized, “should be remembered as a day of disempowerment, not triumph.” He appealed to J&K’s leaders to resist the pressure of submitting to the Central Government and reject the celebratory drumbeat.
“It is a humble appeal to the elected government: stop taking the knee in Delhi and stop beating drums of triumphalism. There is no triumph,” he said.
He concluded that the ultimate loss is borne by the people of J&K, who are being pushed to the brink by these commemorative events, which, in essence, serve as acts of humiliation.
